El Salvador’s Congress Repeals Law Criminalizing Gang Messages
In a significant move, El Salvador’s Congress repealed a law on Wednesday that criminalized the publication of gang messages. The ruling party leaders have declared this as a victory in their war against criminal groups.
President Nayib Bukele initiated a sweeping crackdown on the hyper-violent gangs in the small Central American nation early last year. This crackdown has led to a sharp reduction in crime rates, but it has also resulted in a skyrocketing incarceration rate, making El Salvador the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world.
Lawmakers passed the reform to specifically target individuals who spread or reproduced graffiti or any form of visual expression attributed to gangs, including the notorious Mara Salvatrucha and its rival Barrio 18.
Critics of the law argue that it unfairly targets journalists who often rely on images depicting graphic violence, including messages left by alleged gang members. They also rely on interviews, graffiti, and audio shared on social media for their stories.
Christian Guevara, the senior legislator from Bukele’s New Ideas party who was behind the original measure, was added to the U.S. blacklist known as the “Engel List.” He was labeled as a “corrupt and undemocratic actor” for promoting the law.
Despite the law being in place, no arrests were ever made, but the El Salvadorian journalists association APES condemned it as “a clear attempt at censorship of media” immediately after its approval.
Legislators who supported the law argue that it has served its purpose. Walter Coto, a New Ideas congressman, stated, “We have won the war on gangs and we can change our criminal policy,” as the repeal was passed by all present legislators.
President Bukele enjoys unprecedented popularity at home, largely due to his crackdown on gangs. However, rights groups have raised concerns about the policy, claiming it has unjustifiably curtailed basic due process rights, such as the right to mount a legal defense. They also highlight that the crackdown has resulted in over 73,000 suspected gang members being sent to jail.
The president denies any abuses and has rejected reports suggesting he had agreed to truces with the gangs.
(Reporting by Gerardo Arbaiza; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by David Alire Garcia & Simon Cameron-Moore)
